£50,000 of Sport Relief cash given to Hampshire charities

SCORES of local groups and charities are better off thanks to your efforts.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation has revealed which good causes are getting cash boosts from the 2014 Sport Relief Community Cash Fund.

Fifty organisations are sharing £46,269 after bidding for grants of up to £1,000, funded by money raised in the biannual event.

They range from scout groups and bowling clubs to Eastleigh Friends of People with a Learning Disability, Winchester Youth Counselling and Fareham Stroke Club.

To take advantage of the fund, applicants had to be working in a disadvantaged or deprived area, have an annual income of less than £100,000, be run by local people and have limited access to other sources of money.

This year’s Sport Relief was another resounding success in Southampton, with thousands turning out to take part in the Sport Relief Mile.

There was an even bigger buzz about the event with mayoress Mary White gathering a large group of participants dressed as bees, narrowly missing out on a world record in the process for the most number of people running a race in such a costume.

Along with the race in the city centre, there were ten other running and swimming events across Hampshire which all helped contribute to the total of £51million raised nationwide.

HIWCF is an independent charity dedicated to connecting donors with the local causes and charities they care about.

It is part of a national network of 46 accredited foundations across the UK which play a leading role in keeping the voluntary sector active.

The charity specialises in awarding grants to smaller causes that make a difference to people’s lives and has so far helped more than 500,000 people and 2,000 groups in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.